Jeju · Gujwa, Jeju
월정리해변
A row of cafés looking straight out at very blue water.
Woljeongri is a short beach on Jeju's north-east coast that became famous less for the swimming than for the cafés: a single row of them along the road, all facing the sea.
The water is shallow and exceptionally clear, and the wind turbines along the coast behind are part of the view.
What else is here
Woljeongri is a short beach on Jeju's north-east coast that became famous for the colour of its water and then, rather quickly, for the row of cafés built to look at it.
The reason most people come
A line of cafés, bakeries and brunch places directly behind the sand, most with terraces or rooftops facing the water. It is thoroughly commercial and it is also genuinely pleasant — this is a beach designed for sitting and looking rather than swimming.
Worth knowing in advance
Camping is not permitted at Woljeongri, and neither is surfing. If you want to pitch a tent on this coast, Hamdeok is twenty minutes west and has a free site.
Next along, with a campsite
A few minutes east, similar water, fewer cafés, and a beach campsite — the pairing most people make if they want both the view and a tent.
Inland, and UNESCO-listed
One of the finest lava tube caves in the world, part of the Jeju World Heritage listing, about fifteen minutes inland. A kilometre of it is open to walk through, and it is 11°C inside all year.
North-east Jeju
The colour is a function of what is underneath. Woljeongri's sand is pale and the shallows are floored with more of it rather than with rock or weed, so light goes down, bounces off white sand and comes back up — which is what produces that particular turquoise rather than the darker green of most Jeju bays.
The beach is short, maybe a few hundred metres, and the swimming is fine but unremarkable. What Woljeongri does better than anywhere on the island is the thing in between: sitting on a terrace with a coffee, looking at the water and the wind turbines on the headland.
Note that camping and surfing are both prohibited here. If either is your plan, Gimnyeong a few minutes east has a campsite and Hamdeok twenty minutes west has a free one.
Hyeopjae Beach
White shell sand, water the colour of a swimming pool, and an island offshore.
Hamdeok Beach
Shallow, calm and close to the airport — the easy Jeju beach day.
Jungmun Saekdal Beach
Four colours of sand, real waves, and the island's surf and dive centre.